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 20 August 2008 20:47 BST

Darling admits govt needs to 'sharpen up'

Thursday, 17 Apr 2008 09:38
Alistair Darling says government needs to sharpen up
Alistair Darling has called on members of Labour's government to "sharpen ourselves up", prompting criticism from opposition parties.

The chancellor made the comment in an interview on a visit to China, telling the Bloomberg news agency he believes Britain will get through the credit crunch because the economy is "fundamentally strong".

"But we have also got to make sure that in other areas we sharpen ourselves up, that we have a clear message of what we are about," he added.

"All governments and parties go through difficult patches. This is a time when we should remember the purpose of being in government."

Shadow chancellor George Osborne said Mr Darling's comments were an "unprecedented attack" on prime minister Gordon Brown, whose party is struggling in the polls on economic competence after the Northern Rock saga.

"What started as anonymous briefings from backbenchers has now burst into the open with a public attack on Gordon Brown from the second most important person in the government," Mr Osborne said.

"If the government is fighting itself, how can it fight for Britain?"

Liberal Democrat economic spokesperson Vince Cable said the voting public would be "staggered" to hear that the chancellor is only now starting to admit problems "six months into a financial crisis".

"Even after the Northern Rock disaster and bungled tax reforms, with mounting personal debt and a falling housing market, the only thing the chancellor feels is wrong is the need for improved communications," he commented.

"This isn't an economic strategy, this is a sketch from Yes Minister."End of story


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